Abstract
The cell-free ammonia-oxidizing system of N. europaea was resolved into 3 major fractions: a membrane fraction containing cytochrome a1 and c-type cytochromes, a fraction with hydroxylamine-cytochrome c reductase and a cytochrome c fraction. The ammonia-oxidizing activity was reconstituted by the combination of these 3 fractions. The activity was more consistently reconstituted by adding Nitrosomonas cytochrome c554 to the membrane fraction. The hydroxylamine-cytochrome c reductase activity of the membrane fraction increased with the addition of cytochrome c554 but the oxidation of hydroxylamine to nitrite required a further addition of cytochrome c552. The ammonia oxidation by the membrane plus cytochrome c554 was affected by the concentration of phosphate and the addition of bovine serum albumin, spermine or MgCl2.